Cross-Cultural Journalism: Communicating Strategically About Diversity / Edition 1

by Maria Len-Rios, Earnest Perry

Overview

Built on the hands-on reporting style and curriculum pioneered by the University of Missouri, this introductory textbook teaches students how to write about and communicate with people of backgrounds that may be different from their own, offering real-world examples of how to practice excellent journalism and strategic communication that take culture into account. Specifically, the book addresses how to:

• engage with and talk across difference;
• identify the ways bias can creep into our communications, and how to mitigate our tendencies toward bias;
• use the concept of fault lines and approach sources and audiences with humility and respect;
• communicate with audiences about the complexity inherent in issues of crime, immigration, sports, health inequalities, among other topics;
• interpret census data categories and work with census data to craft stories or create strategic campaign strategies;
• reconsider common cultural assumptions about race, class, gender, identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, religion, disability, and age, and recognize their evolving and constructed meaning and our role as professional communicators in shaping national discussions of these issues.

In addition to its common sense, practical approach, the book’s chapters are written by national experts and leading scholars on the subject. Interviews with award-winning journalists, discussion questions, suggested activities, and additional readings round out this timely and important new textbook. Supplemented by additional case studies and examples of best practice, Cross-Cultural Journalism offers journalists and other communication professionals the conceptual framework and practical know-how they need to report and communicate effectively about difference.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138784895
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/24/2015
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	366
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

María E. Len-Ríos is Associate Professor of Public Relations at the Grady College, University of Georgia. Before earning a doctorate in Journalism from the University of Missouri, she worked in advertising/public relations and marketing in Atlanta. She taught the cross-cultural journalism course at Missouri for ten years. In 2014-2015 she served as a board member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Earnest L. Perry is Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at the Missouri School of Journalism. Before earning a doctorate in Journalism from the University of Missouri, he worked as a newspaper journalist in Texas, Connecticut and Illinois. He is the lead instructor of the cross-cultural journalism course at Missouri, which began in 1998 and was one of the first required journalism diversity courses in the country.

Table of Contents

I. Conceptual Grounding 1. Conceptual Understanding Earnest L. Perry and Maria E. Len-Rios 2. Talking Across Difference Keith Woods 3. Who Is American? Saleem Alhabash and Carie Cunningham II. Application 4. Making Class Matter: Journalism and Social Class Ryan Thomas and Marina Hendricks 5. Gender and the Media: Envisioning Equality Yong Volz and María E. Len-Ríos 6. Mass Media and the LBGT Community Gary R. Hicks 7. Missing in Action: Religion in Mass Media Markets and News Debra L. Mason 8. Reporting and Strategic Communication Across Borders Beverly Horvit and Yulia Medvedeva 9. Immigrants and Immigration: Reporting the New America Melita M. Garza 10. Achieving Excellence in Crime Coverage Earnest L. Perry and Teri Finneman 11. The Complexity of Disability Chad Painter 12. Rx for Communicating about Health Inequalities Amanda Hinnant and María E. Len-Ríos 13. Talkin’ ‘bout My Generation: Understanding Generational Differences Teri Finneman 14. Race and Gender in Sports Cynthia M. Frisby 15. Next: Where Do We Go From Here? Maria E. Len-Rios and Earnest L. Perry

Editorial Reviews

"Respecting difference and interrupting implicit bias are paramount skills for any communicator, especially journalists and public-relations professionals. Cross-Cultural Journalism will help students with both. This book—with its range of cultural and industry expertise—will make students aware of their responsibilities as mass communicators and open their hearts and minds to the complexities of the communities they are supposed to serve." —Andrea Otanez, University of Washington

"Cross-Cultural Journalism provides just the right mix of scholarly and professional insights needed to match my approach to teaching journalists and strategic communicators about diversity. The contemporary examples used throughout the book are great." —George L. Daniels, The University of Alabama

From the Publisher